Sled



Oct. 10, 1939. w. EBERHARD-r 2,175,594

SLED

Filed April l0, 1939 i ll/l Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a means for propelling sleds by manual operationby a person sitting thereon.

The principal object of my invention is the .5 provision of independentlever controlled mechanism attached to each side of the sled supplyingproper propulsion for a sled, and arranged to be controlled and operatedmanually; each hand operating independently a set of levers so that lthe sled may be propelled either in a forward direction or bymanipulating one side in a certain manner it may effect the steering ofthe said sled either to the right or left.

A further object of the invention is the provision of simple means inorder to cancel or nullify the lifting moment resulting from thetranslation of radial motion to direct forward motion.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable,efficient, and useful device which can be manufactured economically inquantity production.

Other features may become apparent from the ensuing description and theaccompanying drawing wherein like symbols are used to designate likeparts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side View of a sled to which is attached my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of Figure 1.

3o Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 ofFigure l.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in Figure 1, 6 denotes, generally, a sled whichis made up of a top supporting member designated by the numeral I6,resting on two runners designated by the numeral 8 and having curvedportions at the forward end designated by the numeral I1.

The runners are provided with props or supports designated by thenumeral 1, having recessed portions I8 for lightness and strength, whichsupport the upper platform designated by the numeral I6.

The front portion 'I of the runners is provided with a boss designatedby the numeral 9 adapted to receive a connecting pivot shaft designatedby the numeral I0 having a head II on one side and a threaded portion onthe other adapted to receive a nut designated by the numeral I2.

This structure is provided in order to support the levers designated bythe numerals I3, which have a hole adapted to be pivoted on the rodstructure I0. These levers have a channel section as indicated by thenumeral I5, and a hub extension designated by the numeral I9 forpurposes to be later explained.

Within the channel portion I5 and at the hub portion I 9 is mounted apropelling lever designated by the numeral 28 and having a sharp edge 5or point designated by the numeral 29 which is adapted to anchor to theground when the combined levers are moved in a direction of the arrow tothe dotted position so as to effect their propelling action of the sledin a forward direc- 10 tion.

The levers I3 are supplied with suitable handle portions designated bythe numeral I4, and are drilled in order to receive the pivot unitdesignated by the parts 2I and 23. The portion 2| is 15 a stud having athreaded hole designated by the numeral 22 adapted to receive the screwdesignat-ed by the numeral 23.

These two screw studs secured together help to hold in place the spring24 having one extension 20 25 anchored to a hole 21 drilled in the leverI3 the other extension 26 anchored at a point in a hole of the lever 28,the coil portion of the spring being coiled about the body of the screw23.

It will be noted that in the lever I3, I provide 25 a slot 20 which isadapted to take up the lifting moment of the lever I3 when it is movedfrom the full position to the dotted position. Since, in the arc itdescribes, there is a small chordal distance which the lever I3 wouldhave to traverse or lift 30 the sled as a result of the arcuate motion;by providing the lost motion of slot 20, I nullify the lifting momentand translate the radial action or motion of the lever I3 into a directhorizontal motion of the sled thus completely eliminating 35 the liftingmoment involved.

In order to operate my invention, a person desiring to take a ride onthe sled, will sit on the platform 6 facing toward the front of therunners, the curved portions I'I, and by propelling 40 the levers I4 ina direction shown by the arrow to the dotted position, both of thelevers being operated simultaneously a forward propelling action willresult.

The slot 20 aiding in providing a true transla- 45 tion of the arcuatemotion to the forward propelling motion eliminating the lifting momentbecause of the lost motion provided by the said slot 20.

When it is desired to steer the sled from its 50 straight and directforward course, by operating the left lever, the sled will be steered ordiverted to the right, and vice versa, by operating the right lever andholding the left lever motionless the sled will steer to the left. 55

Up to the present time sleds are usually built in a manner whereby it isnecessary for someone either to pull the rider along, or a rider usuallygrasps the sled up against his body, runs with it to acquire enough.momenturm and then throws his body down on the sled in order to travelalong for a distance, until all of the momentum or potential energy isconsumed.

With my sled, that will not be necessary, it can be more convenientlyoperated and propelled, and may be used on horizontal surfaces, wherethe sled may be moved along by virtue of the mechanism I have suppliedand expounded herein as the subject matter of my invention.

Altho I have described in succinct terms the structure and descriptionof my invention, and inasmuch as it may be susceptible of manyalterations, modifications, and improvements, I reserve the right to allsuch alterations, modifications, and improvements coming within thescope of my invention and within the purview of the appended claims, itbeing understood that my invention is to be limited only by the priorart and the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising, an operating leverarticulately mounted on each side of a sled, the said operating leverprovided with an elongated slotted bearing, a propelling lever mountedswivellably and slidably in said elongated bearing, and means forsecuring said propelling lever in said elongated bearing comprising, amale stud engaging a female stud, the said combined leverage mechanismadapted to propel a sled.

2. A device of the character described com prising, an operating leverarticulately mounted on each side of a sled, the said operating leverprovided with an elongated slotted bearing, a propelling lever mountedswivellably and slidably in said elongated bearing, means for securingsaid propeller lever in said elongated bearing comprising, a male studengaging a female stud, and spring means adapted to maintain the saidpropelling lever in contact with the ground, the said combined leveragemechanism adapted to propel a sled.

WALTER EBERHARDT.

